nysepost.com

Israeli warplanes struck several targets in Syria on Friday, drawing retaliatory missile fire, in the most serious incident between the two countries since the start of the Syrian war six years ago. -Israeli missile interceptor will be operational soon, completing Israel's multi-layer defense system, a senior Israeli air force official said Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the Friday attacks, which started the latest flurry, targeted a weapons convoy intended for Hezbollah forces, who are in Syria fighting alongside the government against ISIS and other rebel forces.

The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the Israeli ambassador in Moscow to demand explanations for the airstrikes Israel conducted near the Syrian city of Palmyra last week, the ministry confirmed.

The Israeli military denied that any planes had been hit.

Last week, Israel reportedly carried out air raids in Syria.

Syria's air defence forces fired anti-aircraft missiles at the Israeli jets as they returned from the mission.

"Next time, if the Syrian aerial defense apparatus acts against our planes, we will destroy it", Avigdor Lieberman told Israeli Public Radio on Sunday. It marked the first time Israel had used the Arrow missile, which has been jointly developed with the USA over years to defend against long-range missiles from Iran. Russian Federation is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad. For most of the Syrian civil war, Israel has watched from the sidelines, except for occasional strikes against Hezbollah weapons shipments that it says could be strategic game changers in the balance of power.

Israel had anticipated a conflict that would undermine the Assad regime, seriously wound Hezbollah and push back Iran's attempts to expand its influence.

"Hezbollah has been violating United Nations resolutions and is gearing for war", he said.